Ishikawa Toraji

Japanese , 1875
-
1964

Toraji Ishikawa was born in Kochi, Japan and he studied art with Koyama Shotaro. From 1902 to 1904 he traveled throughout Europe and the United States and upon his return to Japan, he founded “Taiheiyogakai”, an artists association of Western style painters.

In 1915 Toraji exhibited at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. In 1923 Toraji contributed to the supplement of “Dai Chikamatsu Zenshu” (The Complete Works of Chikamatsu). In 1934 he completed what is perhaps his most recognized work: a series of ten female nudes (prints).

In 1943 Toraji became head of the Pacific Art School and after World War II he was active at the Tokyo University of Education. He received the Imperial Award of the Japan Art Academy in 1953.